What Are The Different Types Of Leather?

Leather makes any item, whether a piece of furniture or clothing, an instant plush look. Leather has come a long way since it was first used as a means to remain warm. As human civilization progressed, so did the process of manufacturing leather.

Today, we have 5 types of leather in the market and these are:

Full Grain Leather

Top Grain Leather

Genuine Leather

Bonded Leather

Faux Leather

Full Grain Leather Vs Top Grain Leather

Full grain and top grain leather are top quality leather. If you are looking to invest in a good leather item, you should go for either one of them. Full grain leather is made up of the top most layer of the hide. If you are looking for a long-term investment, you can get bags, saddle bags, wallets, and shoes in full grain leather. As top grain leather is more affordable, it is used to make high-end briefcases, attaches, shoes, bags, jackets, etc.

Full Grain Leather

Top Grain Leather

● Should have imperfections or natural markings.

● Does not undergo sanding, buffing, etc to remove imperfections.

● Extremely durable and long-lasting

● Resists moisture

● Will look better over the years

● Does not have imperfections.

● Imperfections are sanded lightly

● A finished coat is put on top to make it look more like full grain leather

● Second highest in quality

● Resists moisture

Genuine Leather Vs Bonded Leather

Genuine leather is also known as Split leather. Genuine leather does not mean “genuine” in its true sense. Genuine leather is the third grade leather that is produced from layers of hide left behind after full and top grain leather is removed. Bonded leather is also known as reconstituted or blended leather. It’s made from leftover scraps of hide that are left behind. As the name suggests, pieces of the hide are glued together to make a leather item.

Genuine leather is easy on the pockets, therefore, a lot of items in the market, such as bags, wallets, shoes, furniture, clothes, are made up of genuine leather. Bonded leather, on the other hand, is used mainly to make inexpensive furniture.

Genuine Leather

Bonded Leather

● The surface is spray painted to look like a higher grade leather.

● It looks a bit plastic and smells of chemicals.

● It won’t last long.

● It is very hard to touch.

● Ends up looking worn out quickly.

● The pieces are dyed and textured together to look like a higher grade leather.

● It falls apart quickly.

● The edges of the leather item will be very neat and smooth.

● It is mostly used in low-end furniture.

Bonded Leather Vs Faux Leather

Bonded leather is made up for real hide pieces put together. However, faux leather fabric base is completely man-made. It is waxed and dyed to mimic the look and feel of a genuine leather. If the jacket that you are thinking of buying is cheap, it is faux leather. Faux leather is very popular when it comes to leather products such as belts, wallets, furniture, etc.

Bonded Leather

Faux Leather

● The back of the leather will give away hints of putting together scraps of the hide.

● Pores are at inconsistant distances

● Moderately resistant

● Surface is rough to touch.

● It has a very shiny feel to it.

● Pores are at consistent distances.

● Very resistant

● Surface is very smooth to touch.

It is easier to gauge the deal you are about to make when you have all the information and knowledge at hand. So, enjoy your leather shopping spree with the new-found insight.

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